Vehicle wheel-rim.



E. 0. SHAW. VEHICLE WHEEL RIM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

' 1,009,445, 7 Patenfed N0v.21,1911

INVENTOR 1 MWIQM W g BY ATTORN Y UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN COUPLAND SHAW, 0F AKRON, 01110, nssIGNoB, BY MESNE ASSIGLN'I'HENTS, T0

THE um'rnnnrm comrmr, OF AKRON. 031 0; A coRPonA'rIo v or oH'Io.

VEHICLE wanna-mm.-

.' Specification of- Iietters Patent.

ramification flied Ma 27, 1m Serial No. 375,984.

Toall whom it may conc n Be it known that I, EDWIN CO PLAND SHAW, .a, citizen. of the United, States, and a resident of the. city; ofAkron, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle VVheel-Rims, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

.My invention relates to that class'of ve-. hicle wheel rims adapted for use with tires of resilient materials,and more particularl to rims intended fOFHSQ with tires whic can be applied and detached at will. This form of rim. consists of three members: an

annularrim adapted to be [secured to the wheel felly,- a; removable tire retaining flange formed upon an endless ring, tanda removable retaining ring adapted, when in laterally outward movement. The 'form' of retaining 'means herein described and claimed consists ofa transversely split ring adapted toseatwithin or beneath the extended edge of the mainportion of the rim and provided with an upwardly or radially outward extendin'g flange adapted to rise above the edge "ofthe said main portion when the retaining ring is in the lockedposition. In my preferred construction the retaining ringnormally tends to expand its diameter, means being provided for contracting the said (ring in order to insert it in its operative positlon.

The objectof my inventionis to provide a rim sufliciently strongto bear the violent strains to which such structures are subject,

. which will at the same time have a detachable-tire retaining flange to permit the use of non-extensible or'non-stretchable tires and to facilitate the attachment or removalof tires. of any. form.

Referring tothe drawings, Figure is a perspective View of, atire, rim and felly embodying my improvements, showing the general construction thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure, showing the construction. Fig. 4i isa side elevation of a "tructure embodying the modified form of my invention, the modification consisting of themeans for contracting the retaining ring and for locking it in the operative position.

the I wheel felly Patented Nov. 21, 1911 l rim 2 is a tire retaining flange 3, extending about the entire periphery; This flange may obviously be of various shapes for use wlth various forms of tires, although in the drawings I have shown it of the form which 1s used with clencher tires, being outwardly, upwardly and inwardly turned to grasp and hold beads formed upon the "tire casing. The other lateral edge of the rim 2 is left flat or inclined slightly downward, and is adapted to form a seat for a removable tire retaining flange 4:, which corresponds 'in shape tothe tire retaining flange 3, but is oppositely disposed. The tire-flange, 4 is mounted upon an endless ring 5, which is shaped to fit accurately upon t e portion of the rim designed to receive it. If, as sug gested, .this edge of the-rim is inclined downward, the base portion of the said ringmust be beveled correspondingly. This endless rlng is entirely separate from the rim,

and means are provided for retaining it thereon, permitting the endless ringto be easily applied or removed. These means consist, preferably, of a transversely split retaining ring 6 suitably proportioned to fit within or beneath the edge of the rim which bears the removable, tire retaining flange. This split ring is preferably of metal, must; be slightly elastic and preferably has a diameter normally greater than that which it has when in the operative position. Along one edge of this ring 6 I provide an upwardly extending-flange 7 of such size that when the split ring is in the operative position the flange projects slightly above the adjacent portion of the rim, and thus s'ervesto retain in position the endless ring which bears the tireretaining flange- Along the outer and lower edges of the ring 5 I prefer to provide a recess 8, shaped to admit the flangei', so that'wlien the two are in the operative position their outer faces are fiushl To secure a firm seat for the split ring, the under-surface 'of the rim Although the normal expanding tendency of the ring 6 is utficientto retain it m placeJIprefer to provide at the point where it is split some means for looking it in the operative position. Th s may be done 1n a variety of ways: for example, in F gs. 1, 2 and 3, the ring terminals are shown as beveled in opposite directions, thus forming a Wedge-shaped opening. A wedge 10 is 1 provided having a cross section' similar to that of the split ring, and its other d mensions such that when the split ring 1s 1n the operative position the wedge, fits accurately into the opening and forms aportlon of the retaining flange at that point. Through the bottom of this wedge extends a bolt 11, threaded to correspond with a tapped socket in the rim at that point. In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification of this locking means in which two downwardly projecting studs 12 and 13 are formed upon the split ring near its terminals, and through holes provided in the said studs, and properly threaded, a turn-buckle 14 is inserted. The rotation of this turn-buckle in one direction expands the ring or if thering normally tends to enlarge permits it to expand, and in the other direction contracts it.

The operation of my device is as fol lows: To attach'a tire the split retaining ring and the endless tire retaining flange are removed and the tire applied-to the rim, so that itengages closely with the tire flange 3. The removable tire flange is thereupon slipped into place about the rim, which can be easily done as, of course, the tire is wholly or partly deflated. The split retaining ring is then contracted sufficiently to enable it to be sprung into place beneath the rim, its groove engaging with the ridge 9. The normal tendency of the split ring thereupon expands it into the operative position, whereupon the wedge 10 is inserted and the bolt 11 screwed solidly up into place. If the expansive tendency of the split ring does not forceit entirely into place the insertion of the Wedge Will do so.

In all ordinary structures the split ring can be sprung into place by hand, but in heavy structures the stiffness of the ring may be too great to permit this, in which case I provide some suitable operating tool such as the jointed lever 15. Pins 16 and 17 at the extremities of the lever arms are inserted in suitably located sockets 18 and 19 in the split ring near the terminals, whereupon pressure exerted upon the long arm of the lever will enable the ring tobe contracted and thus sprunginto position.

The operation of the form shown in Fig. 4 isvery similar, except that when applying or removing the split ring the turn-buckle is used to contract, expand, or permit expansion, no tool being necessary.

It is obvious that my device may be app l1ed to both tire flanges by a mere duplication of parts, 'or that the flange 3 may also my invention in detail, it is not to be understood that I intend to limit myself to this exact construction; but I have chosen it merely as an illustration of one of the many forms which my invention may take.' For example, I do not wish to limit myself to a locking ring having a tendency to expand to a diameter greater than thatof its seat as the only essential characteristic of the ring is that it possess suflicient flexibility to permit it to be contracted to beremoved and expanded to engage its seat.

Having described my invention what I claim-is:

1. In a vehicle wheel rim, in combination, a tire seating member, a removable tire retaining flange, and means for locking said removable tire retaining flange to said tire seating member consisting of a transversely split ring adapted to seat within the edge of the tire seating member and interlocking therewith, and having a portion projecting laterally beyond the edge of the tire seating member and radially beyond the inner circumference of the tire retaining flange.

2. In combination, a vehicle wheel rim, a removable tire retaining flange therefor, and means for locking said removable tire retaining flange to said vehicle wheel rim consisting of a transversely split ring formed to provide an annular groove in its upper surface, a correspondingly shaped ridge upon the under surface of that portion of the said rim which bears the removable tire retaining flange, a retaining flange formed by a wall of the groove in said split ring and adaptvl to extend above the edge of the said rim when in the operative position, said ring having a normal tendency to expand in diameter. I

3. In combination a rim, a removable flange therefor and means for locking said removable flange to said rim Comprising a transversely split ring adapted to seat within the rim and having means to prevent lateral motion and a wedge adapted to enter the opening between the terminals of said split ring when in operative position.

4. The combination with a wheel rim of an endless removable tire retaining flange adapted to seat upon one edge of said rim, a cross split retaining ring adapted to seat Within the rim and having a diameter normally greater than that of its seat and having means to prevent lateral motion, an up Wardly extending flange'upon said split ring adapted when the ring is in the operative position to-extend above the edge of said rim, and to secure the removable tire retaining flange thereon, a wedge adapted to enter the opening between the terminals of said split ring when in the operative position, and means for securing said wedge in said opening.

5. In a vehicle wheel rim, the combination able tire retaining flange, a transversely split? U-shaped retaining ring, a seat for said retaining ring within said member, one leg of said retalning ring engaging said member and the. other said flange and means for looking said retaining ring against its seat.

7. In combination, a rim, a removable tire retaining flange, a ridge on the under-surface of the rim, a split locking ring channeled to receive said ridge, and having an upstanding projection to engage said tire retaining flange, and means for securing the ends of said locking ring to the rim. 8. In combination, a rim, a removable tire retainingflange, a ridge on the undersurface of the rim, a split locking ring channeled to receive said ridge and having an upstanding flan geto engage said tire retaining flange, a member engaging both ends of the locking ring and means for secu'ringthe member to the rim.

9. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a main rim-member and a removable side flange, said main rim member having a I head or rib extending toward the center of the wheel, of an expanded lockingring engaging said bead or rib and having means to prevent lateral motion and also engaging said removable flange.

10. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a main rim member and a removable side flange, said main rim member having a bead or rib extending toward the centerof slipped thereon in to points beyond the outer edge of the rim, and the locking ring normally expandingoutward toward the under side of the rim and having a projection or flange inside of the projection or flange-on the rim, and having a projection outside of the said edge of the rim and extending out to points beyond the said outer surface.

12. The combination with the rim having the outer surface over which the tire can be slipped, a removable tire-retaining flange or ring carried by the rim, and the elastic looking rmg normally tending when in position,

to expand radially outward toward the un-- der side of the rim, said ring having means to prevent lateral-motion, and having a projection which extends out to and engages with the tire-retaining flange or ring fitted as aforesaid to the rim.

' 13. The combination with the rim having the tread part with an outer surface over which the tire can'be slipped, the tire-re- 1 taining ring or flange fitted to the said surface, and the elastic locking ring arranged to normally expand outwardly toward the under surface of the rim, said ring having means to prevent lateral motion, and having a projection outside of the side edge of t the rim and extending outward to points beyond the surface, and outside of a part of the tire-retaining flange or ring.

14. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a main rim member having a beveled seating surface and a removable side flange having a shoulder adaptedfor engagement with said beveled seating surface, of an expanding locking ring for securing the side flange in position. a i

15. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a main rim member and a removable side flange, said main rim member having a bead or rib extending toward the center of the wheel, of alocking member having a channel adapted to receive said bead or rib and a portion of said removable side flange to hold said side flange in position.

16. In a vehicle wheel,- the combination with a main rim member having a rib or bead on its :wheel face and a removable side flange, of a locking member having a channel adapted to receive said rib or bead and EDWIN COUPLAND SHAW.

Witnesses:

CHARLES Goss Goonmon, WALTER KEADY MEANs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

